It's been almost a month and tons to catch up on. Been reading some good books rather than blogging, went to Vegas for Spring Break with the Carter clan, and have spent the past week with Ryan and Easton sick - probably from the pools since McKay and I didn't really swim and haven't gotten the bug. That's the theory I'm going on anyhow!
The trip was real fun to see Easton get a taste of extended family. He kept trying to figure out how he was related to these people and cousins was a new concept to him. He has yet to hang out with his Bare cousins, so this was new. Easton and Lizzie (3) were pretty cute to watch together playing with Grandpa's remote control car or the nintendo game thingee - I so don't know gaming world lingo yet! Rand and Camilla enjoyed using Ryan as their personal water toy and springboard in the pool! Ryan was always worn out after hanging with them. Good fun trip! Wish I'd taken more pictures! We sure missed the Packer girls, Jason and Hayley! It was just nice to have fun chatting and getting caught up.
Eric and Tamsyn took us adults out for a night on the town. Tamsyn's sister watched all the kids, bless her! We went and saw Cirque de Soliel Mystere which was amazing!!! And a great tapas restaurant - YUM!!! Vegas is just the oddest city on the planet might I say!!! I was so glad Nelson and JoLynn had us all come together to enjoy some warmer weather!
Tamsyn and I laughingly tried to sit down and watch a movie, Stardust, and made it about 3/4 of the way through when everyone descended upon us. Ahhh, that's a mother's life - interrupted! We did a pretty good job of shooing them away, but it was never really quiet except for maybe the beginning. Fun movie though! Tamsyn amazes me - always happy, loves those fun happy kids, just goes with the flow, and is just plain interesting and brilliant! You ROCK, Tamsyn! She makes having six kids look fun and doable.
We're lucky to get to see lots of family this year between vacations and Bare weddings. I hope they are vacations and not "trips" - I now know the distinction, it's called being a mom. And yes, that is plural weddings! Two of my sisters, Brooks and Lorry, are adding more boys to the Bare Brood. Ryan surprised me and bought me tickets to go to Lorry's wedding in May! Yahoo! A vacation all by myself!!! And then me and the boys will spend a few weeks with my family in August around Brooks's wedding. Must say I'm not to excited about flying with the boys by myself for that duration since my memory is pretty freshly remembering our recent flights cross country. Let me share the highlights of the trip back from Vegas, a red eye flight with a 4 and 2 yr old . . .
PREFACE: 11pm + Easton = Meltdown!
We arrive at the airport with the plan that Easton will walk or push McKay in the stroller thereby freeing Ryan and I to wrangle the bags and carseats. Nope - Easton demands to ride in the stroller so McKay gets to scream in mom's ear for a bit since he'd had his heart set on riding in the stroller.
As we wait at the gait for our flight back, Easton says he's hungry. I told him to grab the bag of Honeycomb cereal I'd stashed for such an occasion. He pulls it out and tearfully whines, "Mommy, did we borrow it?" I said,"No Easton, it's our cereal. Go ahead and eat it." He begins to fall apart and cries, "No! Did we borrow it?!!" I exhaustedly reply, "No Easton, it's ours, we own it, we didn't have to borrow it. Just eat it." Easton now full on hollers,"NOOO, I WANT TO BORROW IT!" and is quickly descending into hysterics when Ryan intervenes and says, "Yes Easton, we borrowed it. It's okay, we borrowed it." I guess I was too tired to bow down to the tired gremlins.
Finally on our JetBlue flight, Easton is freaking out about his seat belt "doing silly things", as he says it. He spends a whole ten minutes contorting himself within the seatbelt which I'm okay with as long as he's got it on. Then he was upset I would only let him watch and not listen to the only cartoon playing because it's some adult cartoon with very rude, explicit language, but the scenes look tame. After much arguing and tears over trying to get him to watch Animal Planet lions, he announces he's sleepy. Next time I turn around, he's out cold sitting straight up in his chair. Out cold!
McKay takes much longer and demands his own seat. He wants to sit on mom, but then he locks his legs on the chair in front or bounces his legs making the old lady in front of us and her son very upset with us. We did give the boys a little something to help them crash on the plane and thank heavens because I had no reserves that night to deal!
Easton is still asleep upon our Dulles arrival - Ahhh, the red eye flight is over! Not so! Easton will not wake up enough to walk. We have to put him in the stroller. Ryan goes to get the car while I wrangle Easton in the stroller and McKay walking at his own "don't tell me what to do" pace. I get to the baggage w/ the boys finally - Easton's slumped over in the stroller, sound asleep. McKay wants to climb on the baggage belts or flirt with ladies who catch his eye - but Mom isn't one of them! I get the luggage onto the cart and now have to figure out how to get the big luggage cart, Easton in a stroller, and wandering McKay over to where the car seats arrive and then to the arrivals area for Ryan to pick us up. Thankfully, a passing JetBlue woman saves the day and helps me to the door! HURRAY, blessings upon you!!!
Easton sleeps all the way home, we put him in bed, and he sleeps another 4 hours until noon! McKay, Ryan and I sleep til 2pm. YAHOO, we're home!
As I said, it's all just a little too fresh in my memory to look forward to the next flight with them. But it will be worth it, right?!
Monday, March 31
Master of Disaster
Last Friday night I'd made up a batch of maple syrup anticipating breakfast on Saturday morning. I had just put it in the syrup jug but got distracted mid-thought and went downstairs to start a load of laundry without finishing putting the lid on the syrup. Ooops!
I had barely started putting a new load in the washer when I heard the unmistakable sound of a chair being dragged across the kitchen floor. I knew it was McKay. I knew he was going after the syrup. I debated whether or not to run up or to finish starting the load. If only I'd run right up!
I didn't finish starting the load, but the time it took me to debate the question in my head was enough time for McKay to get up on the chair he'd dragged over to the counter, take the syrup bottle off the counter, walk it over to the table, climb up on another chair, and pour the entire bottle on a plate with the extra overflowing to the table, chair and floor.
Parenting decision -- fly off the handle or laugh and take a picture? I peeked through the passthrough into the kitchen and voiced my dismay to McKay about how he'd made a big mess. Ryan was now up to see the sight and I stopped our tantrum by saying I needed to get a picture of this. McKay had a spoon in hand and was just helping himself to a plate of syrup until we'd barged in on his feast. Then he realized he was in trouble and was all sticky everywhere - hence the not so happy pictures!
This kid is a thinker-upper already! Easton just didn't go to this much effort! The day before this, McKay had dumped out my entire bottle of garlic powder in the minute I left to run to the bathroom. It was everywhere! On the counter, in the pot I was mixing dinner, on the floor, on the chair, on him . . . how does he do it that fast?!
Saturday morning we didn't end up having pancakes or anything with syrup because the boys had gotten up and helped themselves to a bag of chocolate balls McKay's teacher had given him for Easter. I knew they were being way to quiet letting us sleep in. They are always barking at us for food in the morning so I wasn't sure what they'd found. I was so relieved to find it wasn't yogurt on the carpet mushed in downstairs between their cute little toes! That was a real fun week of McKay's phase.
Here's some random pictures of all sorts of stuff I've been meaning to catch up on. It starts with McKay's breakfast routine. He gives me orders in this way every morning: He wants cereal in a bowl first "cee-woo" (this picture is hot cereal and the reason we don't have it more than once a week), then milk in the cereal "mote", then a spoon "poon", then a cup of water or "mote", then yogurt "goot". Like Easton, he's particular on where I place said items in front of him which if done incorrectly elicits a stern down brow of disapproval. Sheesh! Tough crowd!
I had barely started putting a new load in the washer when I heard the unmistakable sound of a chair being dragged across the kitchen floor. I knew it was McKay. I knew he was going after the syrup. I debated whether or not to run up or to finish starting the load. If only I'd run right up!
I didn't finish starting the load, but the time it took me to debate the question in my head was enough time for McKay to get up on the chair he'd dragged over to the counter, take the syrup bottle off the counter, walk it over to the table, climb up on another chair, and pour the entire bottle on a plate with the extra overflowing to the table, chair and floor.
Parenting decision -- fly off the handle or laugh and take a picture? I peeked through the passthrough into the kitchen and voiced my dismay to McKay about how he'd made a big mess. Ryan was now up to see the sight and I stopped our tantrum by saying I needed to get a picture of this. McKay had a spoon in hand and was just helping himself to a plate of syrup until we'd barged in on his feast. Then he realized he was in trouble and was all sticky everywhere - hence the not so happy pictures!This kid is a thinker-upper already! Easton just didn't go to this much effort! The day before this, McKay had dumped out my entire bottle of garlic powder in the minute I left to run to the bathroom. It was everywhere! On the counter, in the pot I was mixing dinner, on the floor, on the chair, on him . . . how does he do it that fast?!
Saturday morning we didn't end up having pancakes or anything with syrup because the boys had gotten up and helped themselves to a bag of chocolate balls McKay's teacher had given him for Easter. I knew they were being way to quiet letting us sleep in. They are always barking at us for food in the morning so I wasn't sure what they'd found. I was so relieved to find it wasn't yogurt on the carpet mushed in downstairs between their cute little toes! That was a real fun week of McKay's phase.
Here's some random pictures of all sorts of stuff I've been meaning to catch up on. It starts with McKay's breakfast routine. He gives me orders in this way every morning: He wants cereal in a bowl first "cee-woo" (this picture is hot cereal and the reason we don't have it more than once a week), then milk in the cereal "mote", then a spoon "poon", then a cup of water or "mote", then yogurt "goot". Like Easton, he's particular on where I place said items in front of him which if done incorrectly elicits a stern down brow of disapproval. Sheesh! Tough crowd!
Wednesday, March 5
A Desperate PT Experiment
I thought we were done with potty training Easton til this past week - ARGH! As part of the whole growth spurt thing, the latest development is Easton seems to forget to make it to the bathroom in time - but only at home.?! He'll just get too absorbed playing with his cars or watching one of his favorite movies. And this wasn't just wetting his pants if you catch my drift! ARGH!!!
My last straw was last Saturday night about 10pm. We heard him stumbling around upstairs so I jumped up because I had that bad feeling in my gut! I got to the top of the stairs and there he was, peeing on the bathroom wall! If he was literally turned around the opposite direction and took two steps, he'd be in the toilet, no problem! I know I have no room to complain because this is literally one of the few incidents we've ever had with him in the year he's been potty training, but we all know that internal groan that emerges from deep within us - and I was done for the week with this new trend! Time to nip it in the butt!
In this instance, he just wasn't quite awake and it make me realize it was part of a real phase he was going through. But still, he's pretty responsive when given the right incentive and this phase is really not like him - especially during the day.
In the past two weeks we were having 1-2 accidents per day or during the night which isn't like him. He never hid it and was always very matter of fact and apologetic. I've never made a big deal of it with him because it was real random before and he's so sensitive that I didn't want him to regress out of stress. But we had to enforce a consequence at some point for my sanity! On Monday as we were changing underwear, I told Easton that if it happened two more times we'd have to put him in a diaper. BINGO! Tears errupted! I'd already tried pep talks and time outs but that didn't help it sink in.
The diaper went on last night with many tears. Easton thought he was out of clean underwear so that worked real well on my behalf. He has to go an entire day and night without any accidents to earn his undewear back. I have to laugh at my ingenuity in desperation! You never know what simple consequence will do the trick! And it was all in his reaction. I posed the consequence in my own desperation as we cleaned him up after an accident. I just didn't know what else to do! I don't know if Ryan's on board with this experiment, but at least he's letting me give it a try.
Another sign that the experiment is working was Easton's constant reminders that I tiptoe into his bedroom last night to get his underwear to wash. I don't know why he thought they were in his room to begin with, but his insistence over and over cracks me up. He again checked with me this morning to see if I'd done my job. (He really likes to remind me how I should do things from where to place his cup at the table during a meal to how to turn on my alarm clock.) I wonder if I did this to my mom - is it an oldest kid trait or do most kids do it in their early years?
A PT FLASHBACK: A year ago, Ryan had a month at home with Easton before his new job started and he decided to potty train Easton. I must admit I was not thrilled with this new adventure because I was still working and couldn't oversee the whole thing. Why didn't I celebrate the fact that Ryan wanted to head up this effort?! Ahh, there are so many things I need to give up my control-freak/oldest child personality trait for!
Youtube Potty Training
I don't know if you've seen this, but this is how Ryan potty-trained Easton! Totally makes me laugh every time I think of it because it is so Ryan and sooo Easton! It's a Japanese anime youtube clip on potty training. A bit disturbing, I admit, but if it works, I don't care! I don't know how to put the clip on the blog here, so you'll have to click on the link.
Now on to tackling the other master of disaster - McKay. His current phase is to dump out anything he can, especially cereal and chip bags or my favorite, his yogurt and cereal bowls.
McKay has figured out to open most doors too. Yeah me. He can now get into the fridge , open his favorite yogurt, carry it somewhere in the house (always on carpet), and do the "dump and dance." If ya think about it, who wouldn't love to do the yogurt dump and dance?! Must feel real cool on the toeses! But a mom can only throw up her hands and say AAAAACK!!!
The other not-so-fun aspect of the door opening ability is the toilet "will this float or sink" game and enjoying the great outdoors unaccompanied. I now have to lock our door during the day so McKay won't get out. He scared a bunch of us yesterday when I was at Janelle's and the door had been unlocked when people dropped by. A little later, the doorbell rang and a strange man was at her door. Since she's on office chair/scooter patrol with the big cast on her foot, I beat her to the door. Here was some strange lady carrying my baby, McKay, up the long driveway! AAAACK! I haven't had a horrible speechless freakout moment in a long time, but boy did this scare me bad! McKay had taken one of the fun kid cars out for a spin down the driveway, across the street and was headed toward busy Rt 15 when these two realtors noticed he was unaccompanied. THANK YOU whoever they were!!! It truly does take a village to ensure kids survive! Not only for my sanity, but for their personal safety!
My last straw was last Saturday night about 10pm. We heard him stumbling around upstairs so I jumped up because I had that bad feeling in my gut! I got to the top of the stairs and there he was, peeing on the bathroom wall! If he was literally turned around the opposite direction and took two steps, he'd be in the toilet, no problem! I know I have no room to complain because this is literally one of the few incidents we've ever had with him in the year he's been potty training, but we all know that internal groan that emerges from deep within us - and I was done for the week with this new trend! Time to nip it in the butt!
In this instance, he just wasn't quite awake and it make me realize it was part of a real phase he was going through. But still, he's pretty responsive when given the right incentive and this phase is really not like him - especially during the day.
In the past two weeks we were having 1-2 accidents per day or during the night which isn't like him. He never hid it and was always very matter of fact and apologetic. I've never made a big deal of it with him because it was real random before and he's so sensitive that I didn't want him to regress out of stress. But we had to enforce a consequence at some point for my sanity! On Monday as we were changing underwear, I told Easton that if it happened two more times we'd have to put him in a diaper. BINGO! Tears errupted! I'd already tried pep talks and time outs but that didn't help it sink in.
The diaper went on last night with many tears. Easton thought he was out of clean underwear so that worked real well on my behalf. He has to go an entire day and night without any accidents to earn his undewear back. I have to laugh at my ingenuity in desperation! You never know what simple consequence will do the trick! And it was all in his reaction. I posed the consequence in my own desperation as we cleaned him up after an accident. I just didn't know what else to do! I don't know if Ryan's on board with this experiment, but at least he's letting me give it a try.
Another sign that the experiment is working was Easton's constant reminders that I tiptoe into his bedroom last night to get his underwear to wash. I don't know why he thought they were in his room to begin with, but his insistence over and over cracks me up. He again checked with me this morning to see if I'd done my job. (He really likes to remind me how I should do things from where to place his cup at the table during a meal to how to turn on my alarm clock.) I wonder if I did this to my mom - is it an oldest kid trait or do most kids do it in their early years?
A PT FLASHBACK: A year ago, Ryan had a month at home with Easton before his new job started and he decided to potty train Easton. I must admit I was not thrilled with this new adventure because I was still working and couldn't oversee the whole thing. Why didn't I celebrate the fact that Ryan wanted to head up this effort?! Ahh, there are so many things I need to give up my control-freak/oldest child personality trait for!
Youtube Potty TrainingI don't know if you've seen this, but this is how Ryan potty-trained Easton! Totally makes me laugh every time I think of it because it is so Ryan and sooo Easton! It's a Japanese anime youtube clip on potty training. A bit disturbing, I admit, but if it works, I don't care! I don't know how to put the clip on the blog here, so you'll have to click on the link.
Now on to tackling the other master of disaster - McKay. His current phase is to dump out anything he can, especially cereal and chip bags or my favorite, his yogurt and cereal bowls.
McKay has figured out to open most doors too. Yeah me. He can now get into the fridge , open his favorite yogurt, carry it somewhere in the house (always on carpet), and do the "dump and dance." If ya think about it, who wouldn't love to do the yogurt dump and dance?! Must feel real cool on the toeses! But a mom can only throw up her hands and say AAAAACK!!!
The other not-so-fun aspect of the door opening ability is the toilet "will this float or sink" game and enjoying the great outdoors unaccompanied. I now have to lock our door during the day so McKay won't get out. He scared a bunch of us yesterday when I was at Janelle's and the door had been unlocked when people dropped by. A little later, the doorbell rang and a strange man was at her door. Since she's on office chair/scooter patrol with the big cast on her foot, I beat her to the door. Here was some strange lady carrying my baby, McKay, up the long driveway! AAAACK! I haven't had a horrible speechless freakout moment in a long time, but boy did this scare me bad! McKay had taken one of the fun kid cars out for a spin down the driveway, across the street and was headed toward busy Rt 15 when these two realtors noticed he was unaccompanied. THANK YOU whoever they were!!! It truly does take a village to ensure kids survive! Not only for my sanity, but for their personal safety!
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